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With my minimalist philosophy, I typically drink straight whiskey, vodka, or tequila. However, there are occasions when it's nice to indulge in frivolity. Hence, the Martini! No other drink has such legendary status. The Martini has been called the quintessential American drink, America's gift to the world, and the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet. But the drink isn't without debate. There are thousands of recipes and methods of mixology. Hence, the Roll or Drown Martini!
While this recipe may seem common, the difference comes in the mixology. Typically, Martinis are served cold. As some aficionados say, the colder the better. However, the Roll or Drown Martini is served at room temperature. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is the same reason I don't use a rudder or skeg when I paddle. I like to suffer! More importantly, when it's cooled by being mixed with ice, the drink gets watered down. Water is good for kayaking, bad for drinking. Shaken or stirred? There is a lot of debate about which method is better for mixing. I avoid the whole debate by doing neither. You may be wondering, how much is a dribble of vermouth? Basically, with a quick tilt of the bottle, you pour as little vermouth as possible. More succinctly, a bottle of vermouth should last as long as a waterproof VHF radio. Never mind, bad example. I always feel funny putting an olive in my drink. It just seems frivolous, even when I'm trying to be frivolous. But then again, I'm usually hungry too. Eat two or three while you're making the drink. By the way, it's not a Martini unless you're drinking from the classic cocktail glass. Tough guys may have a masculinity issue with this. But some say the V-shape represents the sacred feminine, so it's as if you're drinking from the woman herself. Finally, before you run off to drink your Roll or Drown Martini, I'd like to share this poem by the American writer and poet Dorothy Parker.
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